Lost in the Desert

We got off to a an early start this morning but realized we'd forgotten to bring the wine.  Tragedy!  It just seems that no trip to the middle of the desert is complete without some kind of alcohol.  Now, just where do you stop at 8:00 in the morning for alcohol?  Wal-Mart of course.  We picked up 3 bottles - 1 Kendall Jackson Riesling, 1 Bicyclette Merlot, 1 Oak leaf Merlot - Wal-Mart's version of 2 buck Chuck.  I want to know if it's any good.  The curiosity is killing me.  A bag of Sunchips and we're off.

We drive and drive and drive some more.  Mel starts feeling that we should've turned, but keeps driving anyway.  I look at our map, which doesn't quite cover where we are - and figure we're headed in the right direction.  What I can see on the map doesn't match the directions from the hotel, but we can still get there based on the map I have.  So, what else would be reasonable to do but keep on driving.  We come to the little town of Olancha and upon a recent car accident.  The cops have recently arrived, the paramedics have someone on a stretcher and the tow truck has arrived.  The 2 cars are totaled.  They are cleaning up the street.  We wait for the cops to get out of their truck - and they thank us for waiting, then let us drive through the accident scene while it is being cleaned up.  That never would've happened in LA.  They would've shut the freeway down for hours while they b.s.d on the side of the road.  It was right past the accident that we had to make a right turn to start our entry into Death Valley.

Night time on the dunes - Wow!

As we drive I can't help but think, why are these people living out here?  There is nothing out here - and I am sure that is part of the allure, but seriously, why?

I am surprised by the serious descent and windy roads that lead to the valley floor.  Some of it actually scares me - the road is kind of narrow and it's a big drop to the bottom.  The guard rails are rusty and no one would ever miss you up here.  We get to the bottom only to find out that this is the Panamint Valley and not Death Valley at all.  Panamint Resort is not my idea of a resort at all.  There is virtually nothing there and what is there looks sketchy at best.  This is something out of a nightmare- Someone books their "dream trip" only to arrive and discover it's barely standing - and what is is stuck in the 50s.

Another climb and deep descent takes us to Death Valley.  This will sound weird, but I am surprised by how much this looks like the desert - the desert near my house - not at all what I was expecting.  I was expecting something more like the Egyptian desert - sand dunes and absolutely nothing for miles - as far as you can see.  But it's not like this at all.  It's desert, definitely, but there are plants and such.  Not a dry and cracked lake bed or sand dunes for miles.  I'm really fascinated.

We arrive in Stovepipe Wells.  I am glad we are not staying here.  There's not much to see or do except for this ancient firetruck.  How did it get stuck out here?  Why was it here in the first place?  We pass the sand dunes (now we're talking) and find where we are supposed to meet the club later this afternoon.  But we want to keep going the 20+ miles to our hotel, find our way around and get checked in.  The Furnace Creek Ranch is larger than it looks from the road.  It's small and fairly low budget, but fine enough.  They put us all in the same building, which is great.  We get checked in and they set off to explore before we have to meet the group.

Night time on the dunes - Wow!